Datebook lists upcoming events and items of interest for residents of Escalon, Farmington, Collegeville and the surrounding area.
Lorina’s Edible Garden at Grandpa’s Barn on Enterprise Road will be the location for a special night of dinner and live theater on Saturday, Sept. 15. The evening will give the audience the chance to take part in a ‘whodunit’ written and directed by Escalon High School alum Taylor Carnes. The show, Murder Takes Talent, unfolds in Grandpa’s Barn and will begin with a no host cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and the dinner and show begin at 7 p.m., with tickets for the dinner and show priced at $40 per person. Tickets for the show, rated PG, are available online by going to squareup.com/store/taylor-carnes-productions or call 209-691-0551 to reserve seats.
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Riverbank’s Royal Neighbors of America Chapter 9890 is hosting a fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 24 at the Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe in Riverbank. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a Potato Bar open and for $10 guests can enjoy all the fixings which will include their custom made potato, green salad, dessert, coffee, and water. Soft drinks will be available for an additional $1. Tickets for the Potato Bar can be purchased at the door. Paint Nite, following dinner, is open to everyone ages 6 and up and is a family friendly event. The cost for painting is $45 with $15 from each sale going to support the annual veterans’ luncheon hosted each November by the Royal Neighbors group. Painting will start at 6 p.m. and interested parties can go to PaintNite.com/Modesto select Aug. 24 Riverbank click on the link and purchase tickets or call 855-767-4270.
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Congressional candidate Josh Harder, CA-10, is hosting some Town Hall sessions for voters this month. Next up is a Healthcare Town Hall, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; those in the healthcare industry are encouraged to come talk about issues local to the Central Valley. For attendance at the session and for location information on the healthcare meeting, RSVP to Claris@HarderforCongress.com or call (209) 214-8089.
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Saron Lutheran Church has scheduled its annual ‘Christmas Bunco and Potato Bar’ gathering, set for Friday, Sept. 7. The event will be held at the church, 1742 North St., Escalon, starting at 6 p.m. The proceeds from the Bunco go toward providing food vouchers to help those in Escalon that are in need during the holidays. The food voucher program is hosted by the Escalon Ministerial Association. Tickets for the dinner and game are available now in the church office. Contact Ann at 838-7695 or they are available after the church worship service on Sundays or at the door.
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Escalon Chamber of Commerce is planning a special event on Saturday, Sept. 15. Tickets are available now for the Escalon Wine and Spirits Stroll, which will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., along Main Street, Escalon. Advance tickets will be available up until 4 p.m. the day of the event, at a cost of $25 and tickets at the event will be $30. There will be a variety of wines and spirits to enjoy, along with food, music and more. Tickets can be purchased through the Escalon Chamber of Commerce website or by contacting Steph Ennis at 310-384-2562.
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Three special nighttime activities remain as part of the Micke Grove After Dark series. The sessions include games, crafts, evening snacks, storytelling and a night tour of the zoo. Open to ages five and older, the cost is $20 per person, $15 for zoo members. Registration is required; call 209-331-2138 to register. Program dates are Friday, Aug. 24 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Saturdays, Sept. 7 and 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit zooed@sjgov.org or www.mgzoo.com.
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Delicato Family Vineyards, 12001 S. Highway 99, four miles north of Manteca, will host its final Summer Artisan Market on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stay cool inside, sip wine and shop, with local food products, jewelry, wearables, handcrafted items and more being offered. The public is encouraged to sip the newest wine releases chosen from the current tasting menu while shopping the displays. The wine tasting fee is $5 (waived for Delicato Wine Club Members) and there is no entry fee to browse the Artisan Market. Also available for purchase will be personal pizzas baked onsite by the Rock Pizza Oven.
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The local REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club gathers for regular meetings every Wednesday morning, 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., at Perko’s Cafe, Patterson and Oakdale roads, Riverbank. This is a fun way to learn the self-confidence and skills needed for public speaking. All are invited to come and check out the group. The next meeting will be Wednesday, Aug. 29. For more information, call (209) 869-8200.
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All are invited to the weekly meetings of TOPS, Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 1034 that gathers each Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar Ave., Oakdale. The group features help with weight loss in a supportive setting. Residents of Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon and beyond are welcome to attend. Call Audrey Oliver at 209-765-7838 for information. You can also visit www.tops.org.
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Golden Agers weekly dances are open to those 50 and older from throughout the Central Valley at the Riverbank Community Center. Doors open Wednesdays at 9 a.m.; the center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., and first time guests are admitted free. The annual membership fee is $12 and each Wednesday members pay $5 and non-members can enjoy a few hours of music and dancing for $6.
